I'm looking at light wind kites again, and am curious if anyone tested both the Slingshot Turbine and Ozone Zephyr (Both are 17M)? Can't get demos of both right now, so hearing a comparison of these two kites would be interesting.
(I've got a Rally 12M which I really like, and the Turbine design appears to be quite similar?)

Thanks

Burls

I have never ridden the slingy but rode the Zephyr in the L2L race.

Firstly i hate light wind, my biggest kite is a 7m Rebel. I don't like big kites i find them slow cumbersome and boring.
However i have to say the Zephyr was a huge surprise and got me rethinking about big kites/light wind.

The kite is big - 17m, it takes a bit of puff to pump her up and it doesn't turn quick, although in saying that i have flown 12m kites in the past that are slower than this thing. The bar pressure is just nice i anticipated heavy but really no different to my 7m in 25knots of wind - maybe a tad lighter.

Kite itself is super stable, the thing that amazed me was the relaunch. I dropped the thing twice at the start in a wind shadow and both times it relaunched with little fuss. First time the bridle tangled in the tip but luckily a mate flicked it round and up she went.
The kite feels smooth and not overly grunty but clearly there is plenty of low end in it. The bridle didn't seem to interfere with kite feedback.

In the air in 13-18 knots she was super stable. The wind felt like this is what this kite was designed to take - i felt like it would have taken a few more knots - not much mind - and i reckon it would go in a bit lighter too.

I was one of the few who parked and rode that day. Power was unbelievable on one gust i even found myself trimming her a bit just to remain 'comfortable'
Even through gage roads where the wind was fickle due to the tankers the kite still drove me though with minimum of fuss.

As a light wind combo in order to basically 'mow the grass' and from my extremely limited light wind experience I would probably choose the Sector 60 (for speed and insane up wind ability) and the Zephyr.

In the link below is a story from New Zealander Mike Holland, who spent winter in Bali and fortunately took a Zephyr with him.
ozonekites.com/water?source=rssfeed

I've ridden the 2011 Zephyr heaps, love it. Does not feel or handle like a big truck, more like a nimble VW van :-)
I've seen wdric at our races series several times with the Turbine, he does well on it and I think he weighs in about 85kg after cabling.
Turbine is stable too never seen it luff or misbehave, I think the Zephyr relaunches easier and has a bigger top end, with equal or better bottom end. Pick either, you would not be disappointed.

Kitepower Australia said...

In the link below is a story from New Zealander Mike Holland, who spent winter in Bali and fortunately took a Zephyr with him.
ozonekites.com/water?source=rssfeed

I've ridden the 2011 Zephyr heaps, love it. Does not feel or handle like a big truck, more like a nimble VW van :-)
I've seen wdric at our races series several times with the Turbine, he does well on it and I think he weighs in about 85kg after cabling.
Turbine is stable too never seen it luff or misbehave, I think the Zephyr relaunches easier and has a bigger top end, with equal or better bottom end. Pick either, you would not be disappointed.

i'd still be disappointed because if i was riding one of these it could only mean one thing..............

its not windy enough